The Rajahate of Sarawak

ASIA

+

DS

597

.37

,R35

1875a

THE

PtAJAIIATE OF SARJlWAIL

RErniKTED FROM "THE ORIENTAL/

BRIGnTON:
Pr.IKTED AT THE "TOWER PEESS," PARK ROAD WEST.

1875.

Cornell University
Library

The original of tiiis book is in
tine Cornell University Library.

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the United States on the use of the text.

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Portuguese and l,lic Dutch, but neither of tlic early navigators of
tlie Arcliipclngo liad ])lantecl his foot ih-iiily upon the island,
or attempted to penetrate the country and evolve its natural
resources. It was reserved for Sir James Brooke to make the
"world acquainted with the real wealth which laj' hidden beneath
the soil and in the heart of the forests, and at the same time
to expose the poverty, wretchedness, aud tyranny, which perilled
the existence of a vast number of hinuan beings.

With the early portion of Sir Jauics Brooke's career in the
East the public were made acquainted, in various forms, while he
yet lived and cairied on his humane and beneficial operations ;
but no continuous nanvativc has ajipcared until noAv, when we
find in a periodical, called " The ^Monthly Packet," a .sketch, traced
hy a loving hand, in which a vigorous intellect combines with a
gentle heart to delineate all the salient facts of a very striking
biography. From this sketch we gather the following brief
narrative of the expedition to Sarawak, and its ultimate results.

Brooke's career was begun in the East India Conipanj''s Armj',
but a woTind received in action compelling his return to England,
he lemained there, slowly recovering, beyond the jieriod
allowed for extended leave of absence, aufl his commission was
therebj"^ forfeited. Before he could settle on any new form of
life his father died, bequeathing him a competence. He now
saw the opportunity he had long desired, of proceeding to the
Eastern Aichipelago. He seized it at once — equipped a j'acht,
called the "Pioyalist," of 142 tons, in which he had made a short
voyage in the Mediterranean, and "stood out to sea.'' This was
at the close of 1S38. The "E-oyalist" had a picked crew, scientific
and other chosen friends, and six G-poundcrs on board, besides
vai'ious small arms, and pro\'isions for four months. Making at
once for the Biitish settlement of Singapore, Bj'ookc there
gathered some facts in relation to Borneo, and learnt, among
other things, that the Rajah of the counby was favourable
to Eurojicans (excepting the Dutch), and had behaved in a
"civilized" manner to a shipAnecked crew who fell into his
power. Brooke remained long enough at Singapore to j)rovide
himself with such articles as he was informed would pj'ove
acceptable as jnesents to the llajah ; and having recruited his crew
with some stout ^Malays, " men of the .sea," he again set forth.

The Admiralty charts of the coast of Borneo were so miserably
impeifcct and deceptive, that the adventurous master of the
" Royalist " found it necessary, as he approached the treacherous
coast, abounding \vjth shoals and reefs, to commence a regular
nautical survey of the fringe of the land. The weather
was tcinpestuous, but nothing daunted the crew of the
" Roj'ali.st." The bay between Point Api and Datu was reached,
and a boat sent to the little island of Talang Talang, where
an agent with a party of Sar^wak Malays was engaged in
collecting turtles' eggs for the Rajah of Borneo. Some five
or six thousand eggs wei-e obtainable every day. Here Brooke
obtained pilots, and went on his way, survej'ing and latitude
settling at every convenient step. At length he reached the
Sarawak river, and sending a letter to announce his arrival,
a nobleman, or Pangeran, was despatched by the Rajah with a
large jiraliu to give liim welcome. Ho describes the scenery
as beautiful exceedingly, the people well disposed, the na\-igation
hazardous. He reaches Kuching, the capital of Sar&,wak, and was
received by the Rajah, Muda Hassim by name, with a salute.
The ordinary Oriental courtesies follow at a formal durbar,
and during a second interview Brooke hears that the Rajah
does not usually reside at Kuching, but is there to suppress a
rebellion, of which, howevei-, the ruler makes liglit. In the course
of conversation with Muda Hassim, it. oozes out that His Rajah-
ship is desirous of gauging the relative powers of the Engli.sh
and the Dutch. Subsequently, the "Royalist" is visited by a
state ofhcer of distinction, and much solicitude is expressed
for the improvement of the trade of Sarawak. Brooke learns
(what indeed he had heard before) that the country is rich
in ores — antimony, tin, and gold — and that it likewise j-ields
wax, rattans, and birds'-nests. To develop and apply the
natural products of the country, assistance was needed. It had
been proffered by the Dutch, but had Jiot been accepted. Tlie
Rajah hesitated between fear and dislike of the Dutch, and his
emissary was curious to know if the English would enter into a
treaty to defend him against any attacks from the people, in
consideration of the concession of a free trade with Borneo.
Brooke would not pledge himself to any political action on the
part of the British Government, but he frankly advised the

refusal of any fiienrlly offers from the Hollanders, as, if they
Eucceerlod in establishing tlicinsclves on the territoiy, aggressioni
-\vould bo sure to follow.

It is singular tliat, aiiiidst the mutations to -which almost;
every State in Europe has been subjected, more or less affecting;
national charactei-, the Dutch should have preserved the offensive!
peculiarities -which provoked the nnisc of Dryden more than t-wc>
hundred years ago. No one seems to like them en inn-s-se. In
the i-cign of Charles tlic Second, -when "glorious John" and hhi
verses were popular, Englisli statesmen found it necessarj' U)
Ko-toiv to the Dutch, -ndio -were a superior po-wer at sea; but th<3
honest i-)oet could not control his ire. He sang : —

"Interest 's tbe god thpT worship in llicir State,
And we, I take it, ba\-o not mnch of tliat.
Well, monarchies maj- o«-n rcliijion's name.
But Slates are Atlui^ts in tlicir very frame :
Ther share a sin ; an<l snch proporlious fall.
That like a stink, 'tis nothing to tlioin all.
Think on their rapine, falsehood, crtieltT,
And that \That once they were they still -wonld be;
To one well born tbo alTront is ivorst; and more
'\^'hcn he's abused and badlcd by a boor.
With an ill grace the Dutch their mischiof do —
The3'*vo both ill nature and ill nianiiei-s too.
Well may they boast theniseivcn an ancient nation.
For they were bred ere inanners wore in fasliion;
And their new Commonwealth has set tbcm free
Only from honour and civility.
Venetians do not more nncoulbly rido
Than did their lubber State mankind bestride;
'J'heir sway bccnnie 'cm ^^-^th as ill a raien,
.\5 their own paunches swell above their chin."

To return from tliis digression — provoked in some measure by
tlie general course of Dutcli operations in the Straits. Obtaining
leave to j)roceed into the interior, Brooke mastered a portion of
the Dyak vocalpulary, at-id went -witli a party up the rivcu-
Samarahan to Sibno-w. Tiie countrj' on either bank -was clnelly
jungle, -witli iiere and tliere a JIalay village. The people received
the travolliirs with a kind and gentle hospitality, and Brooke
was enabled to make liis observations of the country and tLie
Dyak.s. The re.'^ult of the trip was favourable. The Rajah and
his visitor were nnituallj- pleased with each other, and the formur
at once gave jiermission to the merchants of Singapore to trarle

with SanWak. Brooke accordingly left, after a little personal
experience of the existence of piracy. He had surveyed one
hundred and forty miles of coast never visited by Europeans,
laid down minutclj' the rivers to the extent of seventy miles, and
seen something of tlie people.

Leaving Sarawak, the enterprising Brooke proceeded to the
Celehes, where he was well received ; and here his mind revolved
the question of the "practical result of European rule over
the coloured races." His first impressions were not favourable.
" Arc ICuropean Governments," he asks himself, " so constituted
as to advance the independence or the happiness of the native
races ? Our knowledge of the past and the present must decide
for the future. What says the past ? Wha.t is it but a record of
horrora from which the human mind revolts! We have the
picture of innocent and of comparatively happy natives — natives
prosperous and hospitable— confiding in the honour and
integrity of Europeans. We seek them, and they arc no more.
These natives have been extirpated ; their arts, their very
langungc, lo.st in the march of this monster Colonization, which
now is to confer every benefit."

Brooke had left Sarawak because it was in a state of rebellion.
Ho reaches Singajiorc; but in August, 1840, he goes back to
Sarawak, and again experiences kindness and hospitality. But
the rebellion still rages. Brooke's presence is, in the opinion of
the Rajah, a guarantee of the safety of the capital. The
Englishman could do nothing after such an assurance but take an
active part in the warlike operations, and he accordingly advanced
into the field with the Rajah's "brave armj'." But all endeavours
to lead them on to attack the rebels were futile. Their abject
poltroonery was so invincible that Brooke was obliged to return
and report the unhappy result. Here, however, he was met by
an offer of the country of Sarawak, its government and trade, if
he would only stop and not desert the Rajah. The consent of
the Sultan of Borneo, to whom Sarawak w<as tributar}'', was a
neccssarj' condition of the transfer; thus Brooke, in order to meet
the brother of the Rajah, who was a person of some influence,
and Avith whom it was necessary to confer in the firat instance,
again went to the front, and, by the force of his example, and that
of the crew of his boat, attacked, overcame, and dispersed the

icIjcIk, securing tlieir lives, but not .saving Uiclr piopcity fi'oni
confiscation.

Giatoial for tlic .service i-enderccl liim, tlic Rajah cau.sed tlie
requisite documents to be prepared for tlie .signature of the
Sultan of Borneo, as.signing Sarawalc to I)iool<;e ; and the aspect
of affairs -was suflicicnLly pleasant. .But the Rajali was a -wetik
character; and Pangeran Makota, his ^[iuister, an intriguing
nobleman, -who -was Jealous of Brooke, determined to tlnvart in
every way the project which .should ]ilacc an Englishman in a
position to control his own crooked jiolicy. The condition of the
transfer of the Eajahatc of Saiawak was, tiiat Brooke should at
once proceed to Singapore for goods for the SaiiVwak market,
while antimonj' was to be got icadj in exchange for the promised
goods, and a hou.se built for Brooke's accommodation. On Brooke's
return with the goods, he found that no antimonj' liad been
prepai'ed — no house built. The Pangeran Jlakota had worked
ui)on Muda Hassim in his absence. Bi'ookc bore everj'thing,
however, with wonderful jiaticnce; resolved not to give in while
a chance remained of his establi.shiug himself, developing the
resources of the countiy, and putting an cud to slavcrj' and
piracy, which were then feaiCully rife. At length his ])aticnce
being worn out, he resolves on coercive measmes to obtain justice
from the Rajah. He brings the "Royali.st" abreast of the town,
Avith her guns shotted ; lie lands his crew ami friend.s, advances
to the palace, in.sisls on the ratification (if the compact ho had
entered into, the expulsion of JIakota, and the release of a
hundred ca])tivc women and children. The armed demonstration
.succeeds; and, in Suptend.ici', 1S41, "the English Rajah began
Lis reign."

From this time, we find Brooke "setting his house in order" —
commencing and, to a certain extent, carrying out his ])lan.s. He
jnomotcd free tiadc, cstabli.shed a er)urt of justice, in which he
.idmini.sLei'cd beneficent law.s, released numerous slaves, licld
pirates in fear, and countenanced the efforts of Christian
niissionaries. All this time, Brooke's life was one of coinparativc
solitiide, as far as communion with liis fellows went. He felt
with the French jihilosopher, that solitude is a fine thing in
itself, but it is agiceable to have a friend at hand to whom
you can .sny, " /,ri foUl'iJc rul uvn b^lle chose !" Yet the Rajah

Ktcadra-stly ])nr.sucd liis self-imposed task; and was, lie says,
" more than repaid by witnessing tlie alleviation of abject misery
among the ])yaks."

Having i-cccived information that the ships' crews (Englishmen)
of two free-traders were held captive by tlie Sultan of Borneo,
and being desirous to have his OAvn appointment conHmied,
Brooke sailed in the summer of 1842 to Brune, where the Sidtan
resided. His mission was successful in eveiy waj'. The Sultan
Avas very couitcous, because he expected much from the tribute
he was anmially to receive fioni Sarawak. The appointment of
Bi'ooke to the Rajahate was confirmed, and the prisonei-s released
Averc put on board the " Royalist."

Our space will not allow of our following the new Rajah of
SariWak through all the troubles Avhicli folloAved upon his
{i.ssuin]ition of power. Ho did not obtain the sujiport ho
natui-ally expected from the Home Government, but ultimately a
Con.sul Avas nppointed; and an agent — one Mr. Wise — Avhom he
employed in England to use efforts to make the people cognizant
of the advantage that the nation had gained by the coiuiection
Avitb Saiawak, did infinitel}' more harm than good by his
exaggerations and his .'selfish aims. In his cndcaA'ours to su])prcss
piracy', Brooke had the aid of the NaA-y. Its good eHcct AA-as
immediate. On the Avhole, hoAvevei', Brooke — although his finances
were sadly drained by the necessity he was under of bearing
heavy charges before any revenue could leach him — had achieved
great triinnphs b}' 18iG, and beheld the realization of many
of his noble pi-ojects. Dyaks and Malaj's SAvarmcd into SaraAvak,
because they Avere sure of justice and protection. The toA\-n of
Kucliing grew to four times its former size ; in six months one
hundred trading a'cs-scIs, laden Avith grain, had entered the river,
" Avhere before it Avas rare to register one in a month." Slaves
fleeing to SaraAvak from other countries were declared free. The
population of Kuching had auguraented from 1,.300 in 1841 to
12,000. All Avcnt on successfully until it became necessary to
pay a hostile visit to the Sultan of Borneo, avIio had murdered
Muda Hassim and other relatives at Brune. The Sultan fired
upon the Biltish flag, and received condign punishment from
Admiral Mund3^ The result was that the great coal distiict of
Borneo Ava-s placed at the feet of the English, and then Lalnian

10

;m(l tlio ailjaci'iit islcls liocamo Eiij^lisli ])voperty. Tliis Tras at
the end of 1R4C. In 1847 Eiookc rotunied to England, after an
absence of nine j'cavs, to icceivc Mie reward of his toils and his
sacrifices. Tlie Queen honoured him ; lie was made a K.C.B.
The Corporation of London conferred the freedom of the City
upon him; Oxford made him an LL.D. ; and various companies
and clubs vied in paj'ing him attention. He went back in four
months, liowever, as Consnl-General of Borneo, special Com-
missioner to the inde])endent cliicfs, and Governor of Labuan.
Further, he had contrived to raise a fund for the purpose of
founding in SanWalc a Mission of tlie Cliui-ch of England. We
must allow the fair and intelligent bi()gra]ihcr of Sir James to
tell this part of the story in her own words : —

"Brief a3 "wag his gt:iT nt home, he pnccpck''! in so far tnkinjj nflvaiitngo of
public feeling as to raise a fnnrl for the piirpope of foiniding iu Sari\wak a Mi<>«ioii
of the Cburch of Knirlainl. This ^vas aflrrwardg taken in hand hy llio S.P.G. ;
and beneath the shelter of the Itnjah's Govci'nmcnt, that Mission grew. Active
help it had no i-ight to cspcct, nor had the Unjali jiower to give. His ^vhole strength
lay in ruling through the pcoidc. He was, in fact, the kcy-gtone of an arch built
np of divers warring elements, that must hav{» been shattered by auj act of
offence against the religious feeling? — prejudices, if you will — of the majority,
lie planted Christianity in their midst, trustit>g fearlessly to the power of truth to
win its w.ay. And never was a fairer tii-ld, for the people were ready to judge all
our countrymen by his standard. AVith the grntlenr.ws nn ■well as with tho vigour
of strength ; witli the j)Iayful forbearance of a Aviso lore that feels it can afford to
wait; the absence of all harshness of wnrd or manner; the thoughtfnlncss that
took pains to jilcase them iu little things ; the open conragcous truthfulness of deed
and word; with tho daily sacrifice of pergonal comfcu-t for their sakes ; with the
absolute certainty that the weaker, tho poorer, tho more wretched was their
condition, the uiore courteous and the more innnetliate Avould bo tlic help afforded ;
with justice, righteousness, and mercy — Jtalay and Dyak had learned to associate
the face and speech of an Englishman : and the foundations of the religion wiiose
frnit is of those things, were laid broad and deep by Urooke tho Eajah before ever
the upward springing spire of the first Chri.>:tian chnrch gave outward sign."

Sir James Brooke's reception bj' his subjects on his return
to Sai-&,wak was as cordial as an)' monarch could have desired.
It had been bruited about that his conduct in Borneo had received
the approbation of the Supreme Power in England ; and to add
to the (fclat of his re-appearance, he liad brought his peoj)le a
"national" flag — a red and black cross on a golden ground.
The emblem of independence was grateful to the Dyaks, who
had been too long accustomed to the helplessness of native

11

govcrniTicnfc. Tlicy fdt that tlic black flag of tlie pirate had now
its match, and a spirit of dufiance rose in their hearts. But
Sir James avjis as yet too miscrahly provided -sHth material force
to punisli incursions and plunder. Accordingly, early in 1849,
the Corsair.s, iu one hundred prahus, visited the banks of the
Sadoiig, and perpetrated fraud and murder on a large scale ;
but Nemesis came at last. In July of the same year, the British
Admiral in C(mnnand of the Indian fleet sent three small ships-of-
war to Sarii,wak, and under the guidance of the Rajah, condign
punishment was indicted on the pirate fleet and crews.

The successful blow thus aimed at piracy would have given
Sir James perfect happiness in his little realm had his agent
in England been an honest man, who valued the reputation of
the Rajah more than his own pecuniary interests. An Eastern
Archipelago Company had been formed, with a view of investing
large sums in the mines and other products of Saj^wak. The
Rajah's own means were insufficient for the full development of
the natural resources of the country. But the affairs of the
Company were mismanaged at home — there had been mis-
appropriations of money ; and because Sir James insisted on
the dissolution of aU connection with an agent who had been
untrue to his trust, the malefactor turned round, and taking
advantage of the absence of his patron, vilified him in the
most atrocious manner. Les absciis ont toujoitrs tort — the
scandals were accepted — and actually culminated in a motion
brought foi-ward in the House of Commons by the late
Mr. Joseph Hume, The gravamen of the public charges was
that Sir James Brooke had treated men who were " merely
indulging in harmless intertribal wars," as pirates; that he had
encouraged the Navy to earn "head-money" by attacking
pirates ; and had improperly engaged in commercial speculations
to the detriment of the trade of the United Kingdom. This
form of assault upon his conduct and character could not fail
to distress the upright Rajah. His indignation was great — so
also wa.s his ])biIosoi)hy. He would not bo beaten by distant
foes when he wa.s covered with the armour of honesty. And so
after a sti-uggle 6^vith himself and at great personal incon-
venience and peril to his Raj, the brave man took passage to
England to confront • his enemies. Mr. Hume's motion was

12

brought foiwavd, and, after a long and angry debate, came to a
division, ■when it was thrown out by the astounding majority
of 213 to 19 !

But Sir James did not stop short with tliis triumph. He took
the malignant Eastern Aichipclago Company in hand, can-ied it
into the Court of Queen's Bench, and procureil the vacation of the
Charter for a breach of condition. The Exchequer Chamber
affirmed the decision of the Court of Queen's Bench by a majority
of eight Judges to one. All this took place in 1851. The mer-
chants of London sympathjjied cordially with Sir James, and enter-
tained him at a magnificent bancpiet. Still pei'sccution followed the
Rajah ; and at tho instance of the Jlini.stry, urged by Mr. Hume,
a Commission was despatched to Singapore, where Brooke liad
many enemies, to investigate ficsh charges (of the same ty])e
as the others) against him. As an independent Sovereign, he
might have refused to appear; but he wa,s wise enough to Icnow
that dangers half disappear if they are boldly encountered.
He therefore went to Singapore —confronted his accusere — and
the verdict of tho Commi-ssion was unanimou.sly in his favour.
Every charge was disprovcil (hoiouglily and amply. The only
question which the Commission thought proper to debate was
the actual position of the Rajah. Ho was a king, and yet a
subject. Absolute in his own domain, he was still bound to a
loyal recognition of the supremacy of his Sovereign Queen.

Matters now went on smoothly enough until 185G. " Out of
license came liberty, out of anarchy order, out of a grindhig
misery a great contentment." But a new trouble arose iu a
Chinese insurrectioa The gold miners had been detected in
smUTO'lincr. and wei-e fined for their oficnce, and three of them
were further punished for an assault on one of their own
countrymen. The secret Chinese societies, called Huehs, which
existed in Sarawak and elsewhere, were instigatoi-s of revolt ;
and in Fcbruarj', 1857, a sudden spiing was made by the Chme.Me
and their associates upon Kuching. The town was fired ; the
residence of Sir James Brooke, with its valuable contents,
destroyed. He very narrowly escaped with his life, for he wiis
totally without a guard or protection of any kiird. But the
Chinese triumph was of brief duration. The tribes who luiJ
benefited by the English Rajah, took up arms and hurried io

13

Kucliing; and Mr. Cliarlcs Johnson, the much-loved nephew of
the Rajah, who had heen residing in the countiy for six years,
and was now amongst the Sea D^yaks in some authority, came to
the spot with a small force, and rescued his uncle. Vengeance
fell at once upon the Chinese marauders, and they were utterly
crushed. To p\it things straight in SarWak was only a work of
time, for the many trihes which had once lived by piracy, and
been punished for theu' lawlessnesi5, made common cause with
the Rajah, and helped to expel the rash intruders.

From 1S58 fonvard the benignant rule of Sir James Brooke
efFectually told, and Sarawak grew in impol'tance and prosperity.
It was othciTvisc with the health of the Rajah himself Twenty
years of care and toil, bodily fatigue and mental anxiety, had
made gi'cat im-oads upon his constitution ; aud frequent visits to
England became necessary to repair his shattered frame. He
bore up bravelj'^ for ten years. A peaceful home had been seemed
for him in a i-omantic and secluded part of Devonshire, through
tbe generous agency of many fast friends, who had been familiar
with his sLiugglcs and loved him for his own sake. And there,
after a ])roloiiged contest with paralysis and its sequel, he died in
June, 1808, deeply mourned by all who came within the sj)here
of his active benevolence. His fair biographer, from whose
twelve chapters descriptive of his character we have fiamed the
foregoing sketch, tells the story of his last days in touching teiTos,
and has not failed to add the tributes of respect which were borne
to Sir James's memory by the sorrowing villagers.

For some time previous to his final return to England, Sir
James Brooke had delegated the government of SarS,wak to his
nephew, Mr. Charles Johnson, the present Rajah ; and it will
only form a fitting prelude to an account of the actual condition
of the teriitory if we (juote the following extract from a preface
to Mr. Johnson's " Ten Years in Sariiwak," -s^Titten by his
uncle : —

"It is a grntincntion to tnc to ackiiowledgo mynopliew's devotion to tlio canso to
wliicli m; 01VII lifo Lnn been devoted. It is 'woU that liis strriigth Las come to
supply my weakness ; and that his energies, and his life, if needed, ehonid bo given
to establish the Government and proniote the happiness of the people of Sariwak.
My career draws on to its close, bat I have conGdeuce that no consideration will
turn him from tlio work which I shall leave for his hand to do. . . . I onco
had a doy-dreani of advancing Iho Malayan race by enforcing order and establishing

Rolf-g'ovcnmicnt airtoncr thciii : iind f drciiiiKMl, tdo, tlinl my ?i:ilivc c(nmlry wtmlil
derive tlie boncfil of po^^itinn, influence, and cninim.TCL', witlumt tlic rc^ponsibiUticg
from T\-hicli fIic .shrinks, lint Uio dn*nm ended wilIi llir firj^t waking reality, and 1
foand how trnc it is that nntinnn an* like men — ihrit tliu young hope more than
they fear, and Ihnt ilic (dd fenr more (ban tlicy hnpo; th:it Knghmd has ceased to
be cntcr[)risiiigf and could not look forward lo oblainin,^ j^reat cuds by nmall incanB
perseveriugly applied ; nnd that the dcpcndcucics are not now regarded aa a ficM
of ontlay lo yield abundant national return*!, bnt as a Fonrcc of waptcful expcndi-
tare to be wlndly cut off. 'J'hc cost ultimately may verify an old adage, and HOmo
day England raay wake from her dream of dipastronn economy, as 1 have awakened
from iny dream of extended nscfubiess. I trnst the consequences maynot bo more
hurtful to her tlian they have been to mc.

*' Since tin's I have fnnnd hnppincFts in advancing the happiness of my people,
who, whatever may be Ibeir faults, have been true to mc and mbio through good
report and evil report, thron»;h prosperity and tiinmirb misfortune. The principle
of the Government of Sarawak is to rule fur tlie ]iooph; and with the people, and
to tcacli them the rights of free men under the restraints of Government. The
mnjority in the ' Council ' secures a Icjal usccndancy for native ideas of what is
best for their happiness here and hcreiiftcr. The wi-dom of the white man cannot
become a hii\^ranccj and tlicir EnirliKh rnlrr must bo their friend nnd {(uide, or
nothing. The citizens of Sarawak have every privilege enjoyed by the citizcnR of
England, nnd far more personal frecdnm than is known in a thickly-populated
country. They are not taught indn^flTy by buiie^ fnrced to work. Thc^' take a
part in the Government umler which they live; they arc consulted upon the taxes
they pay ; and in short, they ai-e free men.

"This is the Ouvernment which has slruck ii'^ rddtn into tho noil for tho lant
quarter of .l century, whicli lias triumphed over every danger and dilliculty, and
Tvhicli has inspired its peojde with conlidence.

" Sarhwak has now been recognised as nn independent State by America, by
England, and by Italy; nnd with increasing populaliun, trade, nnd revenue, she
may look forward to maintain her position nnd extend her inflnenco still further.
But to secure iiermanency, she needs the protection of an enlightened nafiou to
sustain her effort of pelf-govcrnment ; and this protection she could repay by
equivalent advantages. Failing this object, the past may becomo a guide for the
future, and enable Sarawak to stand alone."

And Sarawak does yet stand alone, fur England still witliholds
her protection. The little kingdom is probably the stronger for
its enforced self-reliance. A new clement of strength has been
imparted to the Kajaliate by the publication of a newspaper.
A file of the useful but unpretending journal, between 1870 and
the present year, is now before us, and yields striking proofs of
its progressive and actual condition.

The Press is one of the gods of an Englishman's idolatry.
His countr}^ s history tells of its induence on good government,
and he naturally regards it as the champion and safeguard of his

15

clicrishod liljortios. No sooner, therefore, has a new colony been
formed, and the settlers and officials become numerous enough to
supply readers and advertisers, than a newspaper makes its
appearance. But some time must elapse before it can become
a political organ of any weight. The ground must be cleared.
The most necessary public institutions must take root — a
Government must be established — the products of the land be
developed — and the seeds of commercial prosperity sown. Thus,
although Sir James Brooke first set foot in Sarawak in 1838, and
was an independent ruler in 1841, it was not until 1870 that the
" Sarawak Gazette " became an accomplished fact. But already
we may read a nation's current history in its pages.

Looking back to August, 1870, when the paper made its d^but,
we find that it rather sought for information than professed to
give it, excepting to the extent of official announcements and
intelligence from Europe. The Government was the sponsor
at the baptism of the bantling, and the liberal principles which
had swayed the Rajah's action in other matters, was immediately
apparent in the first " leader." The paper encouraged the
publication of intelligence respecting the various Residencies
undor^the Sarslwak Government in their relations to the natives,
and to the trading interests, which most of them possessed ; it
invited the opinions of intelligent Europeans with respect to the
social and political condition, the commerce and general progress
of the disti'icts ; and it promised to insert articles on the policy
and foreign relations of the country, and remarks on methods of
cultivation and utilization of native labour; but it deprecated
correspondence of a personal nature and the statement of
individual grievances. It was plain from this programme that
the editor understood the true uses of a newspaper, in its earliest
statres; and a perusal of the contents of the journal for the
ensuing four years proves its insti-umentality in working out
wholesome projects. We will take the progress of the Rajahate
in chronological order, dating from August, 1870 ; and from much
of this detail, inferences can be d^a^vn as to what had been
previously accomplished.

On the 22nd of August, 1870, the firet steamer ever built in
Sa^^wak~was launched. She was named the " Bertha," after the
wife of Mr. Crbokshank, the Resident, who had encouraged the

IG

(nvncvs in their venture. She w.-us seventy feet long, of ten
nominal horse-power, and was' estimated to carry fifty-five tons
of cargo. This incident alone demonstrated that considerable
progress had been made in the settlement. The commerce must
have advanced matorially to find uses for such a vessel.

The " Gazette " of 10th September records the restoration of
peace in the Rejang district. There had been a feud between
the Katibas and Batang Liipor tribes, and these had been extin-
guished by the humane and jirudent exertions of the Rajah. The
result waa regarded as another step towards the realization of
the idea the Sarawak Government had always kept in view —
viz., the spontaneous development of something like a civilized
community out of the numei'ous and widely-differing tiibes
settled in the districts within its control. We notice that at this
time good broad roads were being made through the native
suburbs of Sarawak bj" the Malays, and at their own desire.
Agriculture was being encouraged bj' the distribution of. prizes
to the Dj'ak tribes for the best crops of hill paddy obtained from
seed ordered from Java ; and it is worthy of note that the
philanthropy of Lady Burdett-Coutts had extended to Sarawak,
for one of the best prizes was given by herself through her
nrT.nt, Mr. Martin. Some idea of the trade of the Raj at this
juncture may be formed from the fact that a barque left for
London with a cargo of sago flour, gutta-percha, rattans, antimony,
ore, and canes, valued at 877,000.

A month later than the date of the foregoing items we find
the Europeans complaining of the high price of provisions.
Their presence had created a demand for a superior class of
food ; and as there was no competition among the small native
tradespeople for the honour of supplying them, monopoly had
•«Tou"lit its usual results. The editor of the " Gazette " ascribes
the excessive prices to another cause — the absence of labour.
The Dyaks had not yet been induced to farm their paddy on a
lar^e scale, or with sudicient diligence and regularity. The
^Malays are not a planting or cultivating people. Chinese labour
had demands enough on it. "The oidy remedj'," says the
" Gazette," " is the imj^ortation of labour from abroad. If foreign
capitalists could be induced to bring their capital, and lay it out
in providing on a lai'ge scale the connnoditics which the country

17

13 well adaptcil to proiUice, and encourage the immigration of
foreign labourers, the evil complained of might be expected
to disappear." We gather from the same paper that vaccination
had made great way in the SanXwak territory, under the auspices
of Dr. Houghton, wlio l\ad vaccinated 3,000 people with his own
liand. In some places, where small-pox had broken out, those
who would not submit to the operation died by hundreds, or
lived disfigured. This led to a pretty general adoption of the
Jennerian remedy. Another fact is to be noted as illustrative of
the wisdom of tlie Government. An effort had been made to
obtain a medal for the decoration of officers wlio had dis-
tinguished tlicmselves in s]cirmi.shes with hostile tribes or
pirates. Tlie Rajah refused it — his object being "not to conquer,
but to civilize the natives." It would only have tended to
aggravate feelings of hostility by instituting a decoration for
military service.

In October, 1870, we come upon a very interesting event —
the assembl}- of tlic General Council of Sarawak in the presence
of His Highness the Rajah, who had recently returned from a
visit to Enghind — the main feature of interest consisting in the
recognition of the right of tlie natives to sliare in the supreme
government c)f the country. Tlie first day's operations comprised
tlie regulation of four Courts of Law and the establishment of a
particular form of oath — the Christians swearing on the Bible, the
Mahomedans on the Koran ; the recognition of the Mahomedan
rclif'ion, with all the rites contained therein ; the adoption of
certain Customs (duties) and fines ; the arrangement of the
succession to the Raj ; the acknowledgment of the electoral
sy.stem in the choice of the chiefs of villages ; the confirmation
of the authority of the chiefs to administer justice over all cases
of engagement of marriage, divorce, or division of property ; and
the legalization of tlie custom of holding slaves.

As so much jealous impatience naturally exists in England
touching slavery in any form, and especially within the scope of
an Englishman's jurisdiction, it may be in some degree a relief to
the minds of hearty abolitionists if we go out of the way of our
chronological history to explain the form in which tlie institution
is tolerated to this hour in the Rajahate of SariWak. We derive
our information from an authentic source.

IS

" Thn PTstcm of slavery wrxn ackiiowlclf^rd in Rur.WnlN-, hiit certain rcatricUoiia
were made binding from tbc first to clcjirivc it of al! its real evils.

".Hereditary slaves only ■^veve allowed to be real slaves, and the sweeping claims
made in the commencement by chiefs of the old n'gimc were of rather frcqncnt
occurrence. Thcpc claims on larj;c bodioa of ulaves were examined according to
their merits, and cither allowed or disallowed: in llic former case a certain snm,
not exceeding forty reals, £8, wag fixed on each adult, and from £2 to £4 on each
child. These stims became debts, and tho slaves merely had to work on their own
account to collect these sums, which, when paid tlirongh tho Court, they wcro
proclaimed /rce. If snch claims were disaUowod, tho ])nrty was at once made free,
and the master thrcatcnrd with jicnalty if ho made any further claim on any of
tliem. Snch claims arc now at an end, or of very j-nro occurrence, and tho system
of domestic slavery lias fallen into an easy proovc, and those in tliis po^sition often
free themselves. There is no donbt that wlicn a GovtTnmcnt based on European
I)riuciples is first forinerl in an Eastern country, and bvnr a people habituated to
slavery, to be just to both master and slave becomes one of tho most difiicult points
to settle; and it is a question if a sudden attempt at abolition will prove so
successful in nltiinate extinction and for the benefit of both parties og to a certain
evtcnt recognisincr the system, and keepintr Courts open to remedy any evils that
may from time to time arise, jriving the slave the power of standing on an equal
though respectful footing with the master in Conrts of Justice. But certain rules
must be laid do^^Ti and maintained with a strong; hand ; and bo far as we can see,
this CXKU only bo effectually carried out in an oj)cn Conrt of Law, the oITicialg of
which are on the alert to check the c\"ilK of slavery on all (iccasions. 'J'ho Sar.\wak
Government allowed im imports or exports or trade of any kind iu human beingii ;
ntid any transfer that takos place from one ma<^ter to another in the country is dono
openly in a Law Court, the records of wliicli arc kept. Tlic transferred slave, after
a certain sum has been jiaid by liia new master, has the right of freeing himself by
paying the same sum ip tho same way.

" One reason why tho Sarawak Government (composed as it is partly of natives)
considered it best to recognise tho 83'8tcm, was that any largo number of men
(especially slaves) suddenly set free, woald become idle and Avorsc than useless
members of society, and iu all in'obability would continue tolookfor sopport either
to the Government or to their old masters. But in accepting the sygtem, bad as
it may be, all those who are worthy of freedom can, by their OT\-n industry, obtain
' it. This exertion of tbcir own would cause them to feel a certain amount of prido
in themselves which would not have been the case if they had been launched aa
free men into the world by other hands, thromi on society as beggars, unable
in every way to appreciate liberty, and quite incapable of feeling gratitude
to their bberators.

" In Sar.^wak any sudden step to abolish slavery could not have been carried out
without giving oCTencG to tho native chiefs, on whose good will the Govommenfc,
especially on first setting off, had much to depend. Ifowovcr, we only wish to
state that the systeni relating to slavery thnt was organized and steadily pursued
has been sncccssfnl in leading to a decrease of slavery, and of preventing mastera
from holding unjust and crnel jiowcr. And the natives are finding out that slave
labour is not equal to free labour, and tho latter is very perceptibly taking
the place of the former.''

HI

To render clear the subject of the means of the slaves to free
tlicnisclvcs l)y the paj'ment of the debts referred to above,
Avc may state the actual pecuniary condition of the bondsmen : —

'MVages rnngo from ?5 to $10 or S12 a month. Men of Uio slave class could
earn tlic above wiiirc! by working wood for honse-bailding, by carrying stores by
boat for the Borneo Coniiiany, or working minerals for them, or even by farming;
bnt in the latter, few (luito trust to fnrmers alone. The men cut down the jungle,
born it, then let Die women plant and weed, while they go to other employments —
coast traile in gnttn-percha, india-rubber, cocoa-nuts, turtles' eggs, dried fish,
piuo-npplcs, itc., Ac, or to work as above mentionod. "We liavo often beard that
when employed in boat work (whicli the Malays are so clever in) they can some-
times make a liveliluiml of $25 a month; but this in all jirobabilily is not rr(7l(?ar
work. Many jiow, wlio were slaves in former years, are well-to-do traders, and aro
recognised as in tlic class of ' Nakodah,' or master and owner of a trading vessel."

In the foregoing sketch we have anticipated tho course of
history in some degree, and have left ourselves but little room for
a continuation of the account of Sarawak as it is.

The Supremo Council assembled on the l-tth of November,
1870. The Rajah presided, and Mr. Crookshank likewise assisted
at the coiiferciice ; but the great majority of the members were
native gentlemen and chiefs — the Datus of Bandar and Imaun,
the Tuans Kliatib and Hagi, Jtatarim, and Abang Mat Kasim.
We mention the fact with pleasure, because it demonstrates the
]-cso]ution of the Rajah to govern Sarawak for the natives.
Amongst the laws passed by the Council was one limiting the
term of imprisonment for debt. From this Ave infer that the very
ancient practice of making the term of imprisonment dependent
upon the amount of the debt of the incarcerated individual has
been put in force. No term of imprisonment, however, exceeds
five years. Although, on the grounds of cruelty when the debts
have been incurred in the course of trade, and of the folly of
jireventing a man from earning his livelihood, we are strongly
opposed to im]irisonment for debt in any shape and under any
conditions, it may be that in framing laws for a particular section
of the human family it is necessary to have some respect for the
ancient and coiitinued usages of a, race. It is not easy <at once to
wraft tlie system of British jurisprudence upon Oriental codes
and practices. We have found in India that law-making for
Hindoo? and Mu.ssulmans craves wary walking, and that it is
sometimes even dangerous to attempt the substitution of humane

n 2

•JO

(k'ui-cc's for long-cxisk'iit niul even, (o our percoiitions, liarbarous
u.s.-iges.

The year 1S70 dosed with tlie estaljlislimcnt of a school for
Cliiiicse chiklron whose ]iarciits olijecteil to send tliem to the
Mission Sclinol. It -was declared that it w.is not intended to
make tlio pch(jiii an inslrnmeiit of ])roRol3'tisin. No religious
teaching was tlierefore to Lo forced upon those wlio attended it;
Imt as sonic of the boys were tlie sons of native Cliristians, the
instrwclors were not forbidden to toncli upon religious subjects.
Notliing coidd lie clearer or nir>i-o wise than the principles laid
down b}' tlic Rajah for tlie government of the school. "It is,"
.'inid the principal authority, "in any case not expedient to
give .any anmunt of Cliri.stian teaching to tho.se who exjircss no
wish or inclination to be baptized; and care should be taken to
impress the teachers Avith the u.sclessncss of either offending
strong lieathen prejudices, or of laying themselves open to the
charge of tlirowing pearls before swine in dealing with sacred
things unasked. If this school can succeed in getting rid of .some
ignorance and laying the foundation of future usefulness in anj'
Chinese cliililren, its main ol.ijeet will be gained."

'rh<"so sage counsels may be taken to heart by the teachers in
0)'ient;il .schools in other localities.

A survey of the o[)erations of 1.S70 formed a gratifying task
for the "Sarawak Gazette" at the eonnnencement of 1.S71.
Advances had been made in the Ilajahate of a very satisfactory
cliaraetcr. The incursions of hostile Dyaks had been rcjircssed ;
the action iif various Chinese secret societies checked ; and the
police sufiiciently augmented to keep pace with increasing
numbers of the dangerous classes. The trade of the country
. had doubled that of the previous year; the number of Europeans
had likewise multiplied in a similar ratio. The building of a
new Govennnent House was eom]ileted, good bridges erected,
and new .shops opened wherever demand had arisen. This was
not a bad r(>ci>rd of an infant establishment for a single year.

Kighteen hundred and .seventy-one saw an incre<T,.se of the
trade in gutta-jiercha, Avliich lan u]) to fabulous prices. Coffee
trees were likewise augmenting in mnnber. On the Peninjan
i^Iountain, 1,000 to 1,400 feet above the level of the sea, tlie
Pvnks -had ]>lant('d some thou.sjuids of trees, and thcj'^ Avere

21

all lookiiig M-ell -vvhcn the Rajah and Rancc visited tlie place.
The llajiili seemed to have been ubitiuitous, going from out-
station to out-station, noting some and introducing further
iinprovenients.

Imprisonment for debt for a limited period being apparently
an unavoi<l;vble condition of the Sarawak community at the time
of which Ave are treating, it -was an act of wisdom to pass a
regulation turning to account the time of persons so incarcerated.
The debtor was allowed to work under the same restrictions as
the criminal piisoncrs, receiving four dollars a month, two of
which were placed to liis credit against his debt, and the other
two paid to himself. This arrangement became law in April;
and in the following mouth we find the Supreme- Council passing
an Act maki)ig it ])ossible for persons who differ in religion
to enter into a marriage agreement by civil contract. la a
colony Avhere people of various religious are assembled, miscegena-
tion mu.st ha-\'e its advantages in augmenting population and
piomoting hai-mony amongst the people. The Government of
the Rajah took care to prevent the dissolution of such unions on
slight pretexts by rendering divorces impossible, excepting in the
cases of adultery and harsh treatment. There is no happier
scheme for unhinging society than the multiplication of
legitimate causes of divorce. In the United States of America
there exist thirtj'^-two distinct grounds for separation ; and as a
natural result of the eas}- formation of the marriage contract, it is
as speedily dissolved. The effect of this upon the hajopiness and
Avelfare of the offspring of a jnarriage is deplorable. In Sar5,wak
the children arc specially protected against all the consequences
of a ru])ture of the marriage contract — as far, at least, as human
Avisdom can proA'ide.

The dismissal of Major Walker, of the 97th Foot, from the
SaraAvak sei'A-ice, and the celebration of the anniversary of the
birthday of the Ptajah, Avere the chief events by which the month
of June Avas distinguished. If the first event illustrated the
stern justice AA'itli Avhich malvei-sation of office aa'os visited by the
Government, the second presented an instance of the wide
toleration and generous' hospitality introduced by H.H. the
Ranee. A. dinner Avas given at the Government House to a largo
party of JInlay ladies of the upper class, and the feast Avas

su))ijIementeJ by music. We are unaware of the height to
•vvhich the civilization of the lailics had readied, but such graceful
and humanizing courtesies could not fail to contribute to the
prospevitj' of the Government in an essential degiee.

To bring savage tribes into habits of order, and curb their
passion for the possession of human licads, is one of the most
difficult and tedious taslcs that can devolve upon the ruler of
a settlement in Ilornco. Outbreaks were continually happening
on the Katibas River, in 1871, owing to the ravenous disjjosition
of the inliabitants of the banks ; and it became necessary to
support and encourage the peaceable triljcs in the suppression of
these outrages. Happily the Dutcli settlers and the tribes on
their frontier were well disposed toward.% Sarawak, and their
co-operation with the friendly Dyaks contributed to impose a
certain- check on the depredations of the Katibas. In com-
municating to the " Sarawak Gazette " the operations which had
taken place, the Rajah suggests that the Katibas, if they continue
to hold aloof from the tendci-s of fricnd.ship made to them,
should be driven to the inland part of Ka]iues, where sail will
be scanty ; and His Highness remarks incidentallj- that a Dyak,
once liaving eaten salt, can never do without it. To hold in one's
hand the power of depriving an entire people of their only
anti-septic is to command one of the elements of civilization.
" Salt," says Rajah Brooke, " tames a savage more than all else,
human or divine."

The appointment of Mr. H. Bulwcr to the Government of the
Colony of Lahuan appears to have been very acceptable to the
society of Sarawak. Judging from some remarks in the
" Gazette " of the 30th September, there seems to have been,
during the re'<j\mc of Mr. Pope Hennessj', an absence of the
kindly feeling and mutual interchange of courtesies which the
Sar;\wak Government had been anxious to see established.
" Now," say.s the " Gazette " of the 30th of September, 1871,
" we liope that the advent of a new Governor may be the means
of estahlisliing such unity of purpose and common endeavour for
the interest of trade and civilization on the north-west coast
of Borneo as .should exist between the only two settlements
which can at present bring European influence to bear on the
oppi'esscd inhabitants of Sarawak." At this time the Council'

23

decreed fclic appointment of coroners in the territoiy — one, a
European, being fixed at Kuching; the others, Chinese and
Malays, at the out-stations.

A table of the temperature in August and September shows
the different degrees of heat prevailing at Sai-awak, in ■which the
little Itingdoiu does not compare unfavourably with British India.
The thermometer never fell in more than two instances below 72°,
aTid ravelj' ]-ose above 8.3° at mid-day.

The education of the Dyaks appears to have engaged much of
the serious attention of tlie Rajah and the missionaiies, from
the earliest date of the assumption of English authority. The
diflicultics and obstructions which present themselves to the
diffusion of general instruction in England equally operate in
Sarilwak. The D3'aks apparently prefer employing their children
on labour for the benefit of the family to allowing half their
time to be spent profilably at school. They do not appreciate
the importance of knowledge as an element of strength. Time
will work a change in this regard. When the effect of com-
jictition bct^\•ecn the taught and the ignorant becomes apparent,
prejudice will give wa}'.

With considerable trouble a census of the entire population of
Sarjtwak and the five subordinate Residencies has been made;
and after adding 10 per cent, for omissions and evasions on the
jiart of the people, especially in relation to the number of women
and children in each house, a total was arrived at of 141,640.
But this M-ns found not to be quite accurate. Two hundred
tlioxisand more ncarl}' ajiproaches the riglit figure. The intro-
duction of a salutary enactment for the encouragement and
protection of sago manufacture in the country' brought the
operations of the year 1871 to an end, whicli, if it had not
disclosed any striking improvements, had no serious disasters to
record.

A survey of the affairs of Sarawak during 1872 exhibits, to one
w^ho studies tlie public and political incidents da die in diem, a
far more interesting and agreeable picture than was drawn in the
summary of the editor of the " Gazette.'' As early as the month
of May we read of the passing of a laAv for the suppression of
immoral practices among the Kheh Chinese residents in Upper
Sarilwak. The practices intended to be checked by tlie law

21-

rcfuMcd to Uip treatment of feinnlcs. It liail become <a liabit to
sell or trniiKfor tliein to tliinl ]iai-tie.s against tlioir will, or before
tlio- li;i(l nrrivoil at yinrs litting them to become wives. Con-
currently -willi tliis la-\v, a iiroclaination was imblished granting
laml, flee of iinyments, to nil Cliiiiamen wlio might go into the
lerritorv of Rarawak fir the pur])<ise of making gambler and
pepjicr-gardens. Tiio produce of all such adventuics was
exempted from exjiort dntj' for six j'ears, and all gambler and
pepper-gardens weie allowed salt and tobacco free of duty on the
sjiot for six 3'ears. Two liglitliouses were set np on the coast
about this time.

AVe liave occasionally felt a little endiarrassment in diawing a
distinction between the town and the territoiy of Sarawak when
describing incidents ami operations. This pei'iilexit}-, common to
others, sccins to have arrested the attention (jf the Government;
for an Act of the Supreme Court, in August, 1872, decreed that
" Kuching" was tlieucefoitli to be the name of tlie township —
" Sarawak'' being reserved to designate the territory. A report
on the coal of Sarawak, drawn up by the manager of the
Singapore Gas Company, and published in September, gives a
favourable account of the seams of Simunjan, on the Sadong
Iliver and its vicinity. It is consideieil su])erior to any of the
Labuan coal that the reporter had seen, and appeai-ed tovliim
well adapted for gas-making purposes and the j)roduction of
steam. An advertisement, authori/^cd by the Ilajah, grants per-
mission to any individual or companj' to work the scams on the
])ayment of ten cents ]ier ton brought to grass.

A paragraph in a November inimber of the SanWak print
announces the gratifying fact tliat the custom of keeping a
lumdier of slaves in their employ was dying out among the
wealthier Jfalays on the territoi-y. They bad thought out Avith
success a leading fact in political economy — that slaves exact far
more trouble and expense from their masters, and ])roduee far less
result by their ('ore<'il labour, than is the case Avith free men who
are paid for their services.

A worthy helpmeet in the work of civilization the Rajah found
in the person of his excellent wife, the Ranee. Infinitely as wo
admire the ])roofs of ITer Highness's exertions, we will not run
the rislv nf allowinir " Tin; Oi!Ii;ntal" to be immbcrcd among

lior flahtcicis; but ■\ve cannot Avithliold a tribute to Iier eflbrts
apjiaient in the institution of bazaars and exhibitions of native
work. At one of these, held in October, 1872, a prize, consisting
of a diamond and sapphire ring, was awarded to Saripa Mutong
for some beautiful embroidery.

Christma.s of 1872 was distinguished bj' the opening of the
first liotcl at Ivuching. It appears to have been built on a scale
adapted to the vi.sitors of the town, and the tariff, con-esponding
witli tJiat of the American hotels, was extremely moderate. The
liotcl ])roprietor had adopted the title of " The Pv,ajah's Arms,''
witli the sign of a badger.

" Happy is the nation which has no history !" was the
exclamation of the " honest chronicler" of Sarawak when 1873
had run its course. Those who record current events in the
locality of tlicir abode are apt to overlook general results
in Wieir estimate of progress, and this was evidentlj'^ the
case with tlie conductor of the " Gazette." Now, we regard
as a decided feature in the history of the Raj, a considerable
increase in its commerce. The trade returns, dated the 15th
of February, show that the imports had augmented by 266,969
dollai-s and the exports by 411,998 dollars in the course
of one 3'car. Tlie trained military strength of the Raj liad
become so efllcicnt that the two companies of Malays and Dyaks
had received the appellation of the " SanWak Rangers." The
Malays are described as the sons of respectable parents, resident
witliin the district of Sarawak ; and the Dj'aks are chosen from
the two finest tribes in the country — all active young fellows —
some of them converts fiom the mission stations, and all
possessing the hardihood and national bravery of their race.
Witliout doubt, with care, this is the material out of which
good soldiers are to be made.

Certain alterations in the Debtors' Court Regulations, and the
establishment of a Cliamber of Commerce, marked the opening
months of the year. More coal discoveries were announced in as
many as seven places in the Muka River, only wanting capital
and labour to i-eiidor the mines exceedingly productive.

The summer months of 1873 were very unpropitious to the
interests of S.ariWak, in as far as the territory was deprived of
a part of its most valuable personnel. Mr. Crookshank, the

2G

Resident, who liad scrvcfl for thirty years, ami liad seen Sariwak
grow from an unsettled and misruled native State through days
of danger and uncertainty'- to her present condition, was obliged
to return to England for tlie benefit of his health, carrying with
him tlie good wishes alike of natives and Europeans. He was
succeeded in his oftice by Mr. Henry Skclton, who, however, died
four days after Jlr. Crookshank's departure. Sir. Skelton was
deservedly lamented. He had been seven years in the service,
and had shown the greatest activity and zeal," with a power of
adapting himself to dillicult circunistance.s, and a kind and
generous disposition in his dealings with the natives. In a
paragraph paying tribute to his memory, the editor of the
" Gazette " remarks that, " Of him, and of other out-stationed
officers, it may be truly said that, had they an English public to
know and commend their acts ami give them due credit for what
they had achieved, they would- stand far more prominently
forward in the annals of Sai'.Wak than they have hitiierto had
the opportunity of doing." This is true enough ; but if men
who have ruled vast districts in India, and return home worn out
with their devotion to the interests of the country, acquire
no honour among their own peojilc in England, what can tlio
subordinate officers of a comparatively unicnown territory hope
for ? Tliey must be satisfied with the 771015 coivicia recti and
tlie well-earned applause of those among whom they laboured.
A third removal from Kuching perilled for the moment the
existence of the " Gazette." The Rev. Jlr. Kemp, its editor from
the commencement, quitted the place. The event was much to '
be regretted ; the worthy man, " to know whom was to love ;
a man whom ever)' one loves and respects," was a gentleman and
a scholai-, a good and pious man, every waj' suited for the
difficult position of a chaplain. He had written all the leading
articles in the paper, with a solitary exception, for three years ;
and when we are told that in the columns of the "Gazette" we
may read the history of the Raj for that period, we recognise
the hand of an upright and , independent, and therefore reliable
journalist. What was said of his sermons would apply to his
leaders. Without astonishing or ti-ansporting his hearers with
delight, he threw into a small compass much good common
sense elegantly expressed. Finally, in Septendjer, 1873, the

27

llaj.-ih hiiuself left the scat of his Government for England,
entrusting tlic management of affairs to a committee.- He
left a Icgacj- to liis loca tencntes comprised in a few words : —
" Practise econoin}-, but do not impair the dignity of the Govern-
ment ; manage with caution all foreign correspondence ; pay
attention to tlie Sadong Coal Mine ; and keep the different
military and naval forces to their present standard."

In the foregoing sketch of the history of Sarawak, we have
given Rajah Brooke no opportunitj' of speaking for himself "We
Iiave gathered our impressions of his government from the Acts
passed from time to time at his instance. But his enunciation of
tlie principles which have guided him in the administration of
his little monarchy displays so much sound judgment and good
feeling, that we cannot close without quoting some passages of a
speecli which he made, in January, 1872, on the occasion of his
entertaining tlie. representatives of the Borneo Company.
Speaking of the three principal branches of Sav^wak, and
iiideed, of evcrj"- community — firstly, the Government; secondly,
the ^Missionary and Education ; and thirdly, the Mercantile and
Agricultural, — he said : —

" ncjjarJinf^ t-lio first, from my position as Knjab, it will always be my most
e.irncat cndcavonr to cnsnro safety to life and property; and secondly, to ace
jnsticQ ntlministcrcd between man and man, apart from all interest and favonritism
— a justice wbicli, in its simplicity and entirety, slioald be single-handed, single-
minded, seeing no one, knowing no one, bnt hearing every one. It has for some
time past been an important qneslion in my mind which of two evils is the greatest,
tlrat of governing too mnch or that of governing too little ; and I am not anrc if
there is not a rock, especially in the Kast, on which many split — viz., in governing
too much. The first principles being once established, and afterwards a steady and
CTrcful watch set, matters should then resolve themselves smoothly if they ever
■ intend to do so.

" Kcgnrding the second head, the Mission, I would have all who remark on or
tnke interest in missions, first of all to take into consideration the wide sea of
troubles, of difTicuUies, and of disappointments, the missionary has to contend with
when working in these far-off lands. If these drawbacks bo justly considered, I
believe the mission work in this country will be found equal to that of missions in
other parts of the world j and let us hope that the seed which is already sown may
be BufEciently sonnd and prolific to ensure a plentiful harvest in the future. Of
education, I would say it is commenced, and it is advoncing, not perhaps on a very
extended scale, but yet on a sure basis j and the beneficial ofEeots of education
propounded by the Mission in Sariwak have already been experienced in many
localities. • I could name some very fai'ourable examples to confirm my statement.

" In respect to Commerce, in the third branch, I might perhaps have put it in

2S

iho. rnf--t, for coimii'^i'cv, In my mind, is tlio very life's lilnrnl (if every coiuiiry — it 13
tlic :ill-in-nll by ^vliicli :i cunntry tlivivra, nml wil-)ioii|. wliich n country ■\vonl<I Im
iiothins ; n.ml I wiinlil a^k ivliorc En!,'l:inirK inline Ihi",' ntnilil }>c if it were not for
lior exteiuk'd commorcial reliilions thiouf,'liout the \voiIil ; slio wonld, in fiicl, soon
sink to a third-nitc Power, sacli a"! Spain oi- Oicece. I will not prelend to be aa
experienced in the niinntirc of trade as uiany ntluirs ; lint tlie princijdcs on wliich
its weal and i\-oe arc lia-xd, nr tlie time for slac-keninLC or ti;^htcnin^ the reins —
those, as a dmj-, have occupied iny deepest attentinn; and I wonld add that tlio
only restrictions placeil on trade in thi=: conntry have been brought about cither by
necessity or for advantai^e. On a;^ricnlture, jierhaps the less said the better. I do
uot (latter myself ^vhrM I say (hat 1 have tried inv bi-st (n advance this branch, bnt
have most si.i^nally failed, and am in coiisrMpuMU'O mneh disappninteil ; bnt I still
entertain hoi>es that a time for its development is no! far dinlnnt, and I am jirepared
to take any pains, to receive any amount of advice, or iirider;;o any trouble, could
I see my way to successfully spreadinij ;:arilcns and plantations in the i)lace of our
vast jnnglcs. AVe know, also, that commodities arisin,^ from a;;ricuUurc woald
greatly increase trade, and extend our inlercoursi.- with olher eoinitries,

"I have now touched upon the three heading's, lhc> clT(uts of which in the past
liare made Sara^^■ak ^vhat she now is, and on the elTorls cif which, in the future, tho
comatry's develojuiieut depend:^.*'

On a later occaiion, addrcssinjj a inixnd asscm1)ly, •wlion
installing j\lr. Skoltun as Resilient, tlio Jtajali said lio-w (inidy lie
believed in " the necessity of the Eni"0|H'an and Native elements
comprised in tlie Govoniinont being stcadOistly and firmly bound
iu unity of accord to administer justice among tlic various classes
of tlio poimlation." Government by Europeans would be likely
to be -wanting in righteousness and justice -without the aid of
those -who -v\-cre of the ]icoplc in language, in customs, and in
religion ; but that so long as both -were of one heart and mind,
their country -would be safe, and tlicy need have no fear. The
Rajah trusted all -would do their utmost to aid and support the
new Resident in the discharge of his important duties, as they
had aided and supported the former Resident. Addressing
Abang JIatasan, the Rajah expressed his hope that he -would
endeavour, to the best of his knowledge and ability, to discover
and expose all crime and ^rrong-doing, in order that it might be
punished in open Court ; for while there is concealment of A^Tong
there can be no just and right government of the people.

In taking leave of the subject for the present, we offer no
apology to the readers of " Tiii:: Oiuextal" for a somewhat minute
detail of the history of Sarawak. AVc believe that down to the

20

lime of our ccimmoiiclng Uie navi'ative, very litUc notice liad been
bestowed upon tlic progiess tliat had been made in the establish-
ment of a soltlcd and pvospcrons government among a jicojile
who, tliiitv-five years ago, Avere utter strangers to every trace
and form of civilization. We are convinced that the hearts of
those who rend tlie sketch we have too imperfectly placed before
(liem will glow with emotion wdien they reflect upon what
Englislininii ma}- accoinidish abroad, when guided bj' high
jirinciplos of justice and an anxiety to promote the welfare of
their senii-bail)arous fellow-creatures and the honour of their
own nation.

Although we have confined ourselves in tlie account of Sar&,wak
to a picture of the rise and progress of the settlement under a
Britisli ruler in unison witii native chiefs, tlicre are considerations
in relatioii to the gieat Island of Borneo whicli have continually
jiresented themselves to our mind as we proceeded onward with
our investigation. It needs but a glance at the map of the
ICa^stcrn Arclii|K>lago to feel some degree of mortification that
Jilngland's jiowcr on tlie land should be so very small, and, as
there is n^a.son to fear, so likely to become smaller. Labuan
Jslaud is tbrce hundred and fifty miles from SanWak, and that
is the Old y possession England holds on the coast of Borneo. The
)nainland on. the Borneo territory is very rich, and it is much to
be lamented that the British Government does not take prompt
and elicetual steps to develop its vast resources. Under the
native Government, a large portion of the fairest land under the
sun is sudered to run to waste. Into the occult reasons of the
Foreign Ofllce for neglecting to take advantage of its power to
open up land to British enterprise and capital, we wiU not
jircsumc to enquire ; but we do think that, if the Government of
this country is disinclined to take upon itself the responsibility
of cndcavoin-in" to substitute useful action for the indifference
born of slavish ignorance, it would do well to at least support the
able and far-scclng Rajah Brooke in performing the task. To
him it would be, we are sure, a labour of love, and the results
could not fail to be .alike beneficial to England and Borneo. It
would be ea"5y to transfer Labuan to liis hands, and leave it to
his wisdom, foresight, and experience to acquire a proper degi-ee

;u)

of influence all along the coa.st. Tlic trade iu Savinvak fluctuates,
but it is steadily progressing and augmenting in all branches of
jungle or primitive produce. Gutta-percha, india-rubber, Sic,
rule high or low, according to the demand, but they do not
disappear from the niaikct quotations, and will always form
valuable staples of trade. There is a continual want of such
commodities, and others which the rich island produces, but
wliich lack cultivation ; and the Ruler of Sarawak is the very
man to evoke the nattiral jiowcrs of Borneo, if he is only
encouraged and protected in liis laudable cntcrpiise.

If we were inclined to enlarge u])on the theme it would be easy
to show liow mucli England loses, and has lost, in j^i'cstiye and
influence b}- the stupid fear of responsibility which seems to tie
thehands of successive Itlinistries. This i)usillammity has borne
its fruits in the Eastern Archipelago and elsewhere. The jietty
wars of Ashantee, Suniatra, and even of Abyssinia, may all be
traced to the absence of that connuanding position which such a
nation as England maj^ at an}- time assume without ofTencc to
the dignity and interests of other nations. Should she continue
to neglect to reap the advantages Avhich are within her grasp, the
day may not be remote when she will find her trade in the
Ai'chipelago pass entirelj' into other hands. She would have
notliing to fear in the shape of wars with the people, neither
would the Rajah Brooke, if Labuan Avas transferred to his
exclusive rule ; for it has been .shown in tlie various campaigns
forced upon liim and his prcdecc.ssois hy some of the Dyak
tribes — who are far more warlike than the subjects of the King
of Ashantee — tliat with a native following such as he has, jungle
warfare is much less hazardous than it would be with European
soldiers.

ritiMT.n AT Tin: "tower rnn.'ss, takk uoaii htst, eimoiiton.